I am prepared to strike a deal with all the pharmacy "doctors" out there.
I have heard your words. I have felt your desperate need for recognition for the extra year of schooling you went through. Indeed, I've not only felt it, I've secretly shared it for over 15 years now.
I mean, I went though an extra year too. Compared to the 4-year BSPharms. There are still some out there you know. And I need to tell the world I went through an extra year of school, just like you. We're not so different really.
So I have decided it is me that has the equivalent of a Masters Degree. Most Bachelor's Degrees are four year programs. My BSPharm was a 5 year one. I deserve recognition for this.
So yes, the fact that you went to school for two more years than required for a Bachelor's degree in most fields now makes you a doctor for some reason, and the fact I went for one more makes me a master.
You shall now address me as "Drugmonkey, Master of Pharmacy" I shall answer to no other name. I will sign my checks and credit card slips with this title. Not only is my title cooler sounding than yours, it conveys a far more accurate impression of what we do to the layperson.
I feel better about myself already. I suddenly have no desire for scotch. I think I shall go outside and enjoy the gift that is life. Perhaps take a job with CVS, where I can perform ordinary miracles each and every day.
I am a Pharmacy Master, and the world is now beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you oh Pharmacy Doctors, for opening my eyes to the benefits of title inflation.
13 comments:
Oh, Drugmonkey, Master of Pharmacy. How right you are. When I graduated from pharmacy school, they said "Congratuations, Dr. pharmacygirl." This made me uncomfortable. I am not a doctor, and I don't want to be one. I just got the only pharmacy degree that was available to me. It took me six years.
Get a backpack and lunchpail. Hop the bus. Your doctorate doesn't have to be in Pharmacy. You could get your docorate in anything- even Douchebaggery. And then I'm sure girls would be so impressed by your Ph.D in Douchebaggery that they would sit on your face.
Spot on o Master!! I bow down before you!! I've often proclaimed aloud that the day they try to grandfather me into a Pharm D is the day I quit (which hopefully will be close to my retirement). And I have 6 years of Pharmacy training. It seems we have the same "just call me 'Doctor'" culture here in Canada. Those who bleat "but that's my rightful title!!" can't see beyond their own noses.
I don't think the problem is that a PharmD has the "rightful title" of Dr. I think it's that these douches are DEMANDING you RECOGNIZE them as a DOCTOR.
I call all my science professors at school "Doctor". Why? Because they earned a PhD and that is their title. However, few of them are demanding it and often suggest we use their first names. The day my professor says "Excuse me, I am a DOCTOR," it is over. I think we would all respond the same way even if a legitimate medical doctor felt the need to remind you that he was, in fact, a doctor.
After NINE years of schooling, I would have no problem if someone called me Dr. I sure paid enough money for it. I may or may not sign "official correspondence" with my employer or professional organizations as such (generally I am too lazy to even write my last name with more than a few bumps and loops; it's likely that in four years I will be writing even less). However, since my first day in hospital pharmacy as a tech, I was told that we (pharmacists) don't use our titles in the hospital (or don't talk down to nurses, or don't blow off any staff member) because we want them to identify with us. A new nurse may be nervous about asking the Chief of Medicine a question, but we want those nurses (or patients, even) calling us with every innane question so that we can give them the correct answer. We don't want them to hesitate and think maybe they can figure it out themselves. I think that's a far better mindset than worrying about being called "Doctor".
aaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahaahahhaahah.
i think it's a pain in the ass to go through 6 years of school in order to do something that other pharmacists have done perfectly fine in 5.
i work at a chain, and one day i was asked to fill in at another store, and a customer who was reeeeally pissed off at the pharm manager asked to speak to the pharm manager, so he smugly replied "i AM the pharmacy manager, this is DOCTOR drugboy PHARMD." all i could do was remember when i first interviewed for a pharm job and i called my employer "doctor" and he laughed, put his hand out, and said "wait wait wait. no."
Again, I understand all of the frustration generated by the pharmicists who are cocky enough to introduce themselves as "Dr. anything," however, I do have one comment. Everyone keeps saying that its a 4 vs 6 or 5 vs 6 situation. However, most pharmacy schools (around here at least) require 3 years of pre-requisite courses. I am getting a B.S. in chemistry, so I will have had 8 years of schooling (And nobody need mention that I "ought to just go to med school' b/c that's not what I want to do). So for many of the current students it is a 4 vs 7 or 8 situation.
My mother has friends (who's degree will remain nameless) who completed their doctorate in less than 8 and they now get introduced as Dr. soandso to everyone. However, in their situation, they don't have anyone living that does what they do without the same degree.
I believe that this arguement stems from the fact that there are B.S. and PharmD's working together, and in many places the B.S. pharm knows more from his years of expierience.
All that said, I think that doing anything more than acknowledging the stupidity of "Dr. Pharmacist" (those who use the title, not those with the degree) only hurts the situation. All we are doing is reminding ourselves and the outside world that we have created this dividing line amongst ourselves. All Rph's, who make the effort, have something to contrubute. It might be a little more off the top of the head book knowledge, or it might be the wisdom from 30 years of expierience. It even might be a different perspective on a problem. However, we must recognize everyone's strengths instead of pointing out their weaknesses.
And *breathe*
hey, not all of us PharmD's are bad... I mean, it's not like we have a choice. PLUS I have 8 years of college and a residency. So sorry, but I deserve that damn title.
I'm sorry....to whom are you speaking? I haven't heard my proper name.
I do find it a bit curious though, the number of people who seem to take pride in taking 7 or 8 years to finish what is a 6 year program. I would think actually taking 6 years to do a 6 year program would be a more significant accomplishment.
Drugmonkey, Master of Pharmacy
Oh Master of the Pharmacy!
Will the minions still be able to post comments or will you only take written words from those learned souls with PharmD after their names? Please don't cast your loyal serfs away!
A worried Minionette....
ld50,
Those with clever blogger handles who continue to address me properly have nothing to fear.
The Master has spoken.
Ok, a few things.
I am not taking 8 years to finish a six year program. I am taking 4 years to finish a B.S. in chemistry, and 4 years to get a Pharm.D. I will be very proud of both degrees as I will have worked hard for both of them.
Also, a PharmD is becoming more than a 6 year program. My prospective school (UT-Memphis) requires 90 hours of pre-pharmacy coursework. That is three years worth. My choice of a B.S. is only 1 more year and will give me a leg up if I decide to go for UT's PhD/PharmD program.
Why would I be proud to only do the minummum? Are you proud when you only do the least of what is required of you, or are you proud when you do something extra of your own initiative?
That being said, thank you for listening to this lowly student, O Mighty Drugmonkey, Master of Pharmacy.
Drugmonkey, Master of Pharmacy! You have a point indeed! Particularly when my PharmD pharmacy manager and another PharmD in my department both had no clue that epidurals require a cath in your epidural space..... the later had already had 2 herself. The 21 year-old tech should not feel like she is more educated to give the vicodin munchers on the other side of the subway screen their happy pills than two people that have attained a PharmD do.
I seriously wonder sometimes about those two....
Oh Master of Pharmacy... I say let the silly bastards go to school as long as they want.. 7 or 8 years (+/- residency). Just as long as it prolongs the "pharmacist shortage" and my salary stays/goes higher. I have a PharmD (recent graduate, took 6 years), and if I really wanted to call myself a doctor, I would have went to medical school.
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